How the mastery of energy and space could enable civilization to rise to a higher level, which will be dubbed here as "Kardashevian Aspirations". A higher level of civilization could mean peace, prosperity and freedom for all, but you never know. (Somebody might find a way to screw it up.)

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Space Based Solar Power Status

Solaren and other small companies that have made big Space Solar promises

Space Island Group, Orbital Power Corp

National Space Society tracks Space Solar Power Developments

Comment:

It may be useful to start small and ramp it up if you can make it work. Let's say you want to power something the size of the ISS, which uses about a quarter Megawatt of power. That something could be a VASIMR. Put four or more of these in geosynchoronous orbit and beam the power down to an orbiting VASIMR in order to allow it to get to various places in LEO or to a higher orbit.

Ultimately, you could have solar power device manufacturing on the moon and launch it from the moon. The moon requires much less energy to get out the gravity well. In addition to that, there's no atmosphere to contend with.